Hope/Progressive Yard Delivers
Patrol Boat To Bolivian Navy

The 67-foot patrol boat Santa
Cruz de la Sierra (shown above) was
christened at a recent ceremony
held at the Hope/Progressive shipyard
in Houma, La. The new vessel,
ordered by the Naval Forces of the
Republic of Bolivia, was built under
contract with Napco International
Inc. of Minneapolis. Napco is an
international marketing firm that
supplies a full line of defenserelated
products to the U.S. Government
and the governments of more
than 60 nations around the world.
Hope/Progressive is an established
group of companies specializing in
offshore fabrication of structures,
oilfield equipment, living quarters,
and high-performance aluminum
vessels.

The ceremony included a Catholic
Mass celebrated by Father
Timbre of St. Francis de Sales
Church, followed by the blessing of
the vessel's flags, emblem, and crew.
Title to the vessel was handed over
to the commanding officer, Capt.
Marco Antonio Justiniano, by
Joseph Jany, treasurer of Napco
International, as flags were raised
and the Bolivian National Anthem
played over the vessel's public address
system.

The festivities coincided with
Dias de la Armada—Navy Day of
Bolivia. "This event is of great significance
to Bolivia," said Captain
Justiniano. "It is an historical
landmark for our Navy because it is
the first patrol boat of this size and
category," he stated.

The new patrol boat, built of
high-strength aluminum, is a unique
design specified by the Bolivian
Navy, and incorporates the latest
technology and state-of-the-art
electronic equipment. It will operate
in rivers, protecting Bolivia's borders,
and in drug interdiction duty.

The captain and his nine-man
crew are delivering the vessel. After
leaving Houma he will travel southwest
through the Gulf of Mexico,
along the coast of South America,
and upon entering the River Plate
in Argentina will proceed by river to
Bolivia. The total distance to be
covered is more than 6,000 miles,
and with stopovers is estimated to
last approximately 50 days.

The captain and his engineers
were well satisfied with the quality
of the vessel and its performance.
They consider their experience during
the sea trials as very significant.
This should assure the continuity of
relations between the Bolivian Navy
and the American companies that
participated in the project.